WFA CHAIRLADY LOLITA FARMER SPEAKS BEFORE JOINT HOUSE HEARING ON AMENDMENTS TO OAV LAW

By: Romeo Lagahit

Counselor Lolita Farmer of NSW, Australia, appeared as Resource Person before the Joint Hearing on Amendments to the Overseas Absentee Voting Law last September 26, 2011 at the House of Representatives, Batasan Complex, Quezon City,

Counselor Farmer’s submissions to the Joint Committee included Papers on “Overseas Filipinos Seek Broader And Fuller Suffrage” and Recommendations /Initiatives such as Internet Registration, Internet Voting, Removal of Affidavit to Return, Comelec to adopt Agra Opinion on Affidavit, Uninterrupted Voter Registration, Voter Registration for Departing Filipinos, Transfer of Address of Departing OFWs who are already Registered Voters, Registration Desks at DFA and POEA, Right to Run for and be Appointed to Public Office, Right to Proportional Representation and Right to Vote for Local Officials.

The WFA Chairlady was in the Philippines as part of the Australian delegation to the Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora sponsored by the Commission on Overseas Filipinos (CFO) and the US Pinoys for Good Governance held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last September 27-29. 2011.

That same day, Counselor Farmer, together with the other Fil-Australian delegates Leo Ceniza and Linda Alvarez-Barnes, made a courtesy call to the Australian Ambassador and discussed, among others, possible windows for grant financing to the projects of Worldwide Filipino Alliance -Pangdaigdigang Alyansa ng Pilipino Inc (WFA-PAPI).

Finally, she and her companions headed towards Mall of Asia`s Lamesa Grill for the much awaited WFA-PAPI Dinner Gathering and Forum for members, supporters , friends and Advocates for Peace and OFW concerns.